Realign steering wheel after lifting

[Rustyshackelford]

Is it possible to realign the steering wheel by taking it off flipping it over and putting it back on? Or does the drag link have to be adjusted?

 

[richingalveston]

you can not adjust the steering wheel in the column. the wheel is keyed to the shaft via the interanal parts and the horn button.
you must do by dropping the pitman arm and resetting on the steering box if you do not have enough adjustment in the tie rod ends and steering link.

 

[sweetk30]

the drag link from the steering box / pitman arm to the steering arm / on the knuckle is this adjustment point .

and the lift kit if 3" or more should have included a raised steering arm for the knuckle on the axle .

the drop pitman arm is a lot more rare to get in a kit and cost a lot more . also only does 2-3" correction .

the raised steering arm for the knuckle can do 3-6" of lift correction .

also this steering arm info is only good on 1/2 - 3/4 ton front axles . the dana 60 under 1ton stuff is a whole different animal .

for dana 60 axles there is a few places that sell a raised arm . but most give you a spacer block that SUCKS !!!

if going about 4" on a 1ton axle go drop pitman arm for steering box . if more than that do crossover steering for best results .

 

[skysix]

the wheel is keyed to the shaft via the interanal parts and the horn button.

never would have thought that was possible ...

 

[Barrman]

There are a bunch of little bitty splines around the steering shaft with 1 big spline. The only way to put the steering wheel on anyway besides how the factory put it is to use a file and flatten a few of the small splines.

If you look at the steering wheel there is a notch under the horn plate showing where it should line up with the notch on the top of the shaft.

 

[sweetk30]

skysix " never would have thought that was possible ... "

........

I never said what was quoted of me . that was the members post above me .

 

[sweetk30]

you must do by dropping the pitman arm and resetting on the steering box if you do not have enough adjustment in the tie rod ends and steering link.

on the gm steering box's you cant reposition the pitman arm . there master key splined on 2wd and pinch bolt half moon cut out notch on 4wd .

 

[richingalveston]

Sorry, I have a different pitman arm, You are correct that the steering shaft is keyed on both ends.
I do not have the stock front axle and steering.
sorry to confuse anyone.

 

[sweetk30]

no biggy just wanted the correct info out there for others later who search .

 

[fitz]

Am I missing something here?
I was able to reposition my steering wheel by disassembling my column down to the horn contact ring (the green plastic piece in the pics).
Its the prong on the horn contact ring that dictates the position of the steering wheel, not the splines themselves.
There are lots of YouTube video's that show you how to change the ignition lock on a GM column. This project is a little less involved then that, but the videos are a great reference. Follow the video up until the part about removing the lock (although now is a great time to re-key your truck).
In the video's they talk about putting a witness mark on all the parts to make sure that they go back to the correct alignment. Your just skipping that part to adjust the wheel to recenter it.
You will need a steering wheel puller & a lock plate comressor., and a torx bit.
If you need more detailed pics, let me know.

 

[sweetk30]

see the notch in the end of the shaft . it lines up to notch on wheel .

moving the wheel this way yes fixes that problem . . . . . .

but still the steering box is off . so you max out early 1 direction of turn and have to much the other way .

this is why the adjustment is on the drag link from the pitman arm on the box to the steering arm on the knuckle .

 

[fitz]

Thanks SweetK30, that explains it.
Mine steering wheel was just off a few degrees after I installed 2" HD Tough Country springs. I decided to play around with the horn ring to straighten the wheel out when I had the column apart to change the ignition lock.
With the steering wheel straight I can turn it aproximatly 1.5 turns to the left or right (3 turns lock to lock).
I'm wondering if I should put the horn ring & wheel back the way it was and adjust the drag link to make things right.
It is nice driving an old truck with a perfectly straight steering wheel going down the road.